A Love So Deep (26 page)

G
raham
found himself sitting in the backseat of Charlie’s Honda, Charlie at the wheel and Mary riding shotgun. Charlie and Mary were engaged in juvenile banter—girlfriend, boyfriend kind of stuff, purposely alienating Graham from the conversation. Eyeing and hissing, lip smacking and “ohhs” and “ahhs” passed between the two passengers in front, giving the illusion they were a new couple getting to know each other—teasing here, teasing there—playing the dating game.

Graham was unsure why he had accepted their invitation to lunch. Curiosity had gotten the best of him. When had Charlie and Mary gotten together? It was just yesterday morning that Mary had come to the house trying to seduce him. Charlie seemed to have some kind of chip on his shoulders, and he and Graham had barely spoken to each other, let alone had a decent conversation in months.

In fact, ever since Rita had come into his life, Graham had sensed Charlie had amassed a certain amount of jealousy toward him. It was so thick, you could cut it with a knife. And why would Charlie be jealous when over the years the local scuttlebutt was always about Charlie and his many women?

It was true that Charlie could have just about any woman he wanted. They used to fall at his feet, but he wasn’t ready to settle down. That was until Ernestine came into his life. But he wasn’t ready for Ernestine, either. Ernestine was different and did not fit into the lifestyle Charlie had carved out for himself. And then he lost her, Ernestine, the one woman who could have made Charlie most respectable.

Now as the car rolled along, the only view Graham had was the back of Charlie’s and Mary’s heads. Graham began to suspect that he was being set up. He wasn’t sure how Mary fit in, but Graham’s intuition led him to believe that Charlie was the mastermind behind his unconfirmed suspicions.

“We ought to go back to Friday’s,” Mary finally said, pawing all over Charlie.

Charlie smiled. “We haven’t been to Shenanigan’s. They have a wonderful brunch. I’ve worked up a hunger after Reverend Fields’ two-hour message.” Charlie and Mary laughed so loud, Graham put his fingers in his ears to drown out the noise. It wasn’t even that funny, although he didn’t remember a thing Reverend Fields had spoken about.

What was Charlie up to? He would have never given Mary Ross the time of day, no matter how good she looked. Religion was not in Charlie’s vocabulary despite his showing up at church today, and Mary Ross was one of God’s loyal angels. Besides, Graham had tried relentlessly over the years to reel his buddy into the umbrella of the Lord and failed on every attempt, except when he and Amanda and both girls were married and for Amanda’s funeral. No, something was not right, and he would play along until Charlie’s hidden agenda was exposed.

Graham broke his silence. “Why don’t you drop me off, Charlie? I seem to be a third wheel.”

“No, buddy,” Charlie rushed to say. “Mary and I are just getting to know each other. Sorry if we seem preoccupied. I’m surprised I hadn’t noticed her earlier.”

“Yeah, right,” Graham muttered under his breath. “Maybe it’s because you’re allergic to church. Right, Mary?”

Mary stared straight ahead not daring to take a peek at Charlie who sat silent, mulling over Graham’s snide comment.

“Well, Mary is a beautiful woman.”

Mary blushed.

“And, I’ll go to church every Sunday just to be near her.”

“They say the Lord works in mysterious ways,” Graham said under his breath.

“I’m sure you’ve noticed Mary of late. She’s a single man’s dream.”

Here we go,
Graham thought. “No disrespect to Mary, but while I will admit that I have noticed the change in her, Charlie, and find her to be rather attractive, she’s still Mary.”

“For your information, Deacon Peters…”

“Call me Graham.”

“Slam, Graham, thank you, ma’am…whatever. I know you find me attractive. I saw how you were mulling over my body with your eyes yesterday. If that…that woman hadn’t been in your bed already, I might have been in it instead.”

The car careened to a screeching halt as Charlie nearly ran a red light. Charlie and Graham passed glances in the rearview mirror—Charlie locked on until Graham finally looked away.

Mary twisted around in her seat frowning at Charlie. “What is it, Charlie? You darned near turned the car over. I told you yesterday that they were together.”

“Well, you didn’t quite put it that way.”

“There was no mistake in what I meant. Graham had on only a pajama bottom, and that…that woman had on this see-through nightgown. Aghh!”

“Enough!” Graham cut in. “It’s nobody’s business what went on at my house.”

“I’m not interested in knowing what went on there,” Charlie said, tossing another look at Graham in the rearview mirror. “All I know is, I’m the lucky one. If Graham had not let you go, Mary, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to get together with you.”

Mary batted her eyes. “Oh,” Mary said satisfied, while Charlie kept Graham in his view with one eye while maneuvering in and out of traffic.

“Well, Mary, I do wish the best for you and Charlie on the occasion of your blossoming relationship. You are a beautiful woman, and if I wasn’t already in a committed relationship, I’d probably give ole Charlie boy a run for his money.”

Graham caught Charlie’s look in the mirror. Graham wasn’t sure if it was a look of surprise, satisfaction, or entrapment, but Graham was enjoying the game. But it was Mary’s look that said it all—the pleading as she whipped her head around, flashing her eyelashes in Graham’s direction as if she couldn’t believe her ears. Her eyes were full of hope. But Mary surprised Graham as she reached up and gave Charlie a peck on the cheek to the surprise of Charlie, who had yet to make any sexual advances toward her.

Graham continued to watch, not sure if Mary was pretending or actually believed he and Charlie were fighting over her. He’d even test his theory if it meant not hurting Rita, but he wasn’t about to risk losing his precious jewel.

“The car isn’t far,” Mavis said, putting on her trench coat. “Why don’t you stay here; I’ll bring the car around. Your father would have been here if he didn’t have to go to a board meeting this morning. You know he’s on the board of Seattle-First National Bank, and they called a special meeting to discuss an emergency matter.”

“That’s not necessary, Mom. I’ll go with you. The rain seems to have let up some.”

“After you’re settled, maybe we can get together for brunch. I want to show you the menu and program for our gala fund raiser for our Women’s Center on Friday. Maybe you can say a few words to the group; after all, it’s because of all that you’ve been through with William that I became involved in the first place.”

“I’ll have to decline, Mom.”

“But why? And miss the opportunity to showcase my beautiful daughter? I was hoping you could fit a song in there.”

“Mom, I really hate to disappoint you. I won’t be able to go to the gala.”

“Rita! You’ve known about this for weeks.” Mavis threw her hands up in the air and sighed. “It’s a simple request. Please don’t disappoint me. This is a very important event. The monies raised will help many women who find themselves victim of an abuser. I don’t have to tell you that, and…”

Rita put her arms around her mother’s shoulders and drew a long sigh. “You know I love you. Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to emulate you in every way. I didn’t turn out too bad. You’ve been a champion for this and that. You and Daddy were there for me when I needed you in the worst way and for that I will always be truly grateful. I commend you on the work you are doing at the Women’s Center, and I would be the last person to leave you in a lurch, but I won’t be able to be there. I’ll support you financially or any other way I can.”

“And you ran all the way to Oakland to help that no-count, lower-than-life ex-husband of yours the minute he came calling, but I can’t get you to do something for me, your own mother, who’s trying to raise money for a worthy cause.”

“Don’t be so dramatic, Mother.”

Rita looked at her mother. They stood on the edge of the curb waiting for the officer to wave them across the busy thoroughfare.

“I’m going back to Oakland on Thursday.”

Mavis gasped and abruptly turned her face away from Rita without uttering a word.

“Clyde needed a replacement for an act that cancelled and I jumped at the opportunity. The band could use the money.”

“Does he mean that much to you?”

“This is not about a man, Mother. This is about a roof over my head…”

“That you never use…and you have plenty of money saved. And I know it because your daddy is on the board of the bank where your accounts are stored,” Mavis hissed.

Ignoring Mavis, Rita continued, “…food on the table, a few pennies in the bank. I rely on these bookings, Mom. I’m not working a nine-to-five job, although I haven’t done bad. I’ll donate money, get someone else to sing if you like, but I’ve got to go to Oakland. I promise not to miss the next one.”

Mavis Duncan kept walking until she reached the car. She hit the remote and got into the car, leaving Rita to put her own luggage into the trunk. Mavis knew she would get over it and certainly wouldn’t love her child any less because of it. Even though she had not committed Rita for the gala, it was a forgone conclusion in her mind that Rita was going to participate.

Mavis was depending upon Rita to make her night a successful one. But Rita had a life of her own and could not answer every beck and call. Mavis rolled the window down and took a whiff of the fresh Seattle air. She twisted her ruby-red lips together, blew out a puff of air, and relaxed knowing she had no control over her grown daughter.

Shenanigan’s was crowded with late-afternoon patrons. They were dressed in casual to dressy wear—ladies in linen pantsuits, silk and rayon dresses; the men in open-collared, short-sleeve cotton shirts and polo pullovers.

Piped-in music met the trio’s ears—a rhythm that was jazzy and a little rock and roll. The smell of freshly grilled fish met their noses. The hostess, dressed in a soft coral linen blouse and eggshell-colored linen pants with an eggshell, eel-skin belt wrapped around her waist, placed Charlie’s name on the waiting list, promising a short, fifteen-minute wait.

Charlie, Graham, and Mary found seats next to a young couple. Mary eagerly sat in the middle of the group—two fine gentlemen at her disposal. They sat quietly, the only noise other than the music and the faint voices of the dining patrons was an occasional smacking of the couple’s lips. It was a tolerable distraction in the wake of an awkward silence.

Mary shifted in her seat, occasionally tugging at the hem of her skirt. It dared to expose ample flesh that had both Graham and Charlie peering out of the corners of their eyes. Mary’s legs were crossed at the ankles and her knees slightly bent to the right.

Mary was dumbfounded, unable to believe that two attractive males were fighting over her. Just last week they hadn’t even given her a sideways glance. Graham said it himself, “If there was no Rita, he would give Charlie a run for his money.” And Graham wouldn’t have to work that hard. Mary would cut Charlie off in a heartbeat if she knew Graham would have her.

Things were beginning to crystallize right in front of her. Charlie was in love with Rita. She could feel it, and he was using Mary to make Graham jealous. She would not have believed it herself if she hadn’t been in the play. Mary was enjoying this more and more and moved closer to Charlie.